Many followers of Islam have been criticized, simply for believing in their right to choose their religion. Many of the misconceptions about Muslims lie in the fact that America holds power, and whoever holds power, writes the history books. Much of the incorrect information about those of Islamic faith come from a small group of people causing a label to be placed on the rest of those peoples. Labeling anyone who believes in Islam a terrorist on a mission for Jihad. Creating an almost Hitler-like propaganda scheme, luring gullible and undereducated men and women, mostly Americans, into believing that all people who practice Islam want all other people wiped off the face of the earth.
9 most common misconceptions.
Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists
Islam literally means 'submission to God' and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'.
NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS....The Quran says: "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61)
There are other terrorists. example: IRA (Irish Republican Army), Robin Hood
Islam Oppresses Women
Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is modest and dignified.
Divorce is uncommon but will happen under extreme circumstances. Women cannot be forced into marriage, their parents can suggest men whom they think are suitable.
Muslims worship a different God
Allah is Arabic for God
Allah is unique, the only Deity, creator of the universe and omnipotent.
Abraham and Ishmael instead of Abraham and Isaac
Islam was spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths
There is no recorded evidence that the principles of Islam were spread through force and bloodshed. Islamic people have their differences with other religions, races, and even inside their own religions, but as a whole are not in support of violent encounters. Shi'a and Sunni Muslims who attend Mecca set aside arguments and differences in order to take part in worship
During the original spreading of the Islamic faith, there were groups going around to different countries, planting small seeds of faith in many places. The belief that a very few people could overcome whole countries and armies with such limited weaponry such as swords and spears. Rather than enforcing a strict rule of necessity to convert to Islam, the traveling Muslims shared their faiths with the people they were preaching to, and let them decide for themselves after the hospitality they were generally treated to.
Muslim= Arab
The Muslim population of the world is around 1.2 billion. One out of five people in the world is a Muslim. They are a vast range of races, nationalities, and cultures from around the globe--from the Phillipines to Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic faith.
30% percent of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 18% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 14% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world, and 8% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan make up 9% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area (3%), including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in Russia and its newly independent states, India and central Africa. There are about 6 million Muslims in the United States
The Nation of Islam is a Muslim group
A religious and cultural organization founded in 1931 in the United States, espousing Islamic principles and favoring political, social, and economic independence for African Americans.
Islam and the so called "Nation of Islam (NOI)" are two different religions. NOI is more of a political organization since its members are not limited to a single faith. Muslims consider this group to be just one of many cults using the name of Islam for their own gain. The only thing common between them is the jargon, the language used by both. "The Nation of Islam" is a misnomer; this religion should be called Farrakhanism, after the name of its propogator, Louis Farrakha
Islam and Farakhanism differ in many fundamental ways. For example, Farakhan followers believe in racism and that the 'black man' was the original man and therefore superior, while in Islam there is no racism and everyone is considered equal in the sight of God, the only difference being in one's piety. There are many other theological examples that show the NOI's teachings have little to do with true Islam.
Any serious student of Islam has a duty to investigate and find the true Islam. The only two authentic sources which bind every Muslim are 1) the Quran and 2) authentic or sound Hadith. Any teachings under the label of "Islam" which contradict or at variance with the direct understanding of fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam form the Quran and authentic Hadith should be rejected and such a religion should be considered a Pseudo-Islamic Cult. In America there are many pseudo-Islamic cults, Farrakhanism being one of them. An honest attitude on the part of such cults should be not to call themselves Muslims and their religion Islam, such an example of honesty is Bahaism which is an off-shoot of Islam but Bahais do not call themselves Muslims nor their religion, Islam. In fact Bahaism is not Islam just as Farrakhanism is not Islam. Read about Malcolm X in relation to this misconception, where he found the true Islam, realizing that it is much different than NOI.
All Muslim men have multiple wives
The Qur'an is very clear on this subject, that monogamy is the basis for normal relationships, while polygamy is only allowed in cases involving marrying the mothers of orphans so that the orphans are taken care of. After a time of war, a rich man may take in up to four wives in order to provide for them and their children, if their husbands were lost to the battle. The Qur'an mentions the preference to monogamy instead of insisting that men hold more than one wife in a marriage.
Islam was introduced to a place consisting of men who believed in polygamy, so instead of enforcing a strict rule and scaring possible followers away, the rules for marrying more than one wife are outlined to create the need of a good reason for breaking out of having only one intimate relationship.
The Qur'an, while allowing men to marry widowed women with children in order to help them survive, is the only religious scripture of the populous and well defined religions that holds the phrase "marry only one".
The Quran in Sura 4:3 says:
"And if you be apprehensive that you will not be able to do justice to the orphans, you may marry two or three or four women whom you choose. But if you apprehend that you might not be able to do justice to them, then marry only one wife, or marry those who have fallen in your possession. (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 305)"
Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him.
Muhammad was born in Mecca in the year 570. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society
At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for 23 years is known as the Quran. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate.
While Muhammad was chosen to deliver the message, he is not considered the "founder" of Islam, since Muslims consider Islam to be the same Divine guidance sent to all peoples before. Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus etc. were all sent with divine guidance for their peoples. Every prophet was sent to his own people, but Muhammad (pbuh) was sent to all of mankind. Muhammad is the last and final messenger sent to deliver the message of Islam. Muslims revere and honor him for all he went through and his dedication, but they do not worship him.
"O Prophet, verily We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner and as one who invites unto God by His leave and as an illuminating lamp." (Qur'an 33:45-46)
Muslims don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets
The Qur'an teaches that there was a prophet named 'Isa, and rather than the Son of God, was performing miracles under God's permission. Rather than being a divine being, Jesus ('Isa) was portrayed as being fully human.
Muhammad was another prophet, who wrote the Qu'ran as an order of God. Clearly, Muslims believe in more than just one prophet.
MUSLIM MISCONCEPTIONS
Group: Dan Casey, Alex Moran, Russell Washabaugh
Many followers of Islam have been criticized, simply for believing in their right to choose their religion. Many of the misconceptions about Muslims lie in the fact that America holds power, and whoever holds power, writes the history books. Much of the incorrect information about those of Islamic faith come from a small group of people causing a label to be placed on the rest of those peoples. Labeling anyone who believes in Islam a terrorist on a mission for Jihad. Creating an almost Hitler-like propaganda scheme, luring gullible and undereducated men and women, mostly Americans, into believing that all people who practice Islam want all other people wiped off the face of the earth.9 most common misconceptions.
- Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists
- Islam literally means 'submission to God' and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'.
- NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS....The Quran says: "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61)
- There are other terrorists. example: IRA (Irish Republican Army), Robin Hood
- Islam Oppresses Women
- Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is modest and dignified.
- Divorce is uncommon but will happen under extreme circumstances. Women cannot be forced into marriage, their parents can suggest men whom they think are suitable.
- Muslims worship a different God
- Allah is Arabic for God
- Allah is unique, the only Deity, creator of the universe and omnipotent.
- Abraham and Ishmael instead of Abraham and Isaac
- Islam was spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths
- There is no recorded evidence that the principles of Islam were spread through force and bloodshed. Islamic people have their differences with other religions, races, and even inside their own religions, but as a whole are not in support of violent encounters. Shi'a and Sunni Muslims who attend Mecca set aside arguments and differences in order to take part in worship
- During the original spreading of the Islamic faith, there were groups going around to different countries, planting small seeds of faith in many places. The belief that a very few people could overcome whole countries and armies with such limited weaponry such as swords and spears. Rather than enforcing a strict rule of necessity to convert to Islam, the traveling Muslims shared their faiths with the people they were preaching to, and let them decide for themselves after the hospitality they were generally treated to.
- Muslim= Arab
- The Muslim population of the world is around 1.2 billion. One out of five people in the world is a Muslim. They are a vast range of races, nationalities, and cultures from around the globe--from the Phillipines to Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic faith.
- 30% percent of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 18% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 14% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world, and 8% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan make up 9% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area (3%), including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in Russia and its newly independent states, India and central Africa. There are about 6 million Muslims in the United States
- The Nation of Islam is a Muslim group
- A religious and cultural organization founded in 1931 in the United States, espousing Islamic principles and favoring political, social, and economic independence for African Americans.
- Islam and the so called "Nation of Islam (NOI)" are two different religions. NOI is more of a political organization since its members are not limited to a single faith. Muslims consider this group to be just one of many cults using the name of Islam for their own gain. The only thing common between them is the jargon, the language used by both. "The Nation of Islam" is a misnomer; this religion should be called Farrakhanism, after the name of its propogator, Louis Farrakha
- Islam and Farakhanism differ in many fundamental ways. For example, Farakhan followers believe in racism and that the 'black man' was the original man and therefore superior, while in Islam there is no racism and everyone is considered equal in the sight of God, the only difference being in one's piety. There a
re many other theological examples that show the NOI's teachings have little to do with true Islam. - Any serious student of Islam has a duty to investigate and find the true Islam. The only two authentic sources which bind every Muslim are 1) the Quran and 2) authentic or sound Hadith. Any teachings under the label of "Islam" which contradict or at variance with the direct understanding of fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam form the Quran and authentic Hadith should be rejected and such a religion should be considered a Pseudo-Islamic Cult. In America there are many pseudo-Islamic cults, Farrakhanism being one of them. An honest attitude on the part of such cults should be not to call themselves Muslims and their religion Islam, such an example of honesty is Bahaism which is an off-shoot of Islam but Bahais do not call themselves Muslims nor their religion, Islam. In fact Bahaism is not Islam just as Farrakhanism is not Islam. Read about Malcolm X in relation to this misconception, where he found the true Islam, realizing that it is much different than NOI.
- All Muslim men have multiple wives
- The Qur'an is very clear on this subject, that monogamy is the basis for normal relationships, while polygamy is only allowed in cases involving marrying the mothers of orphans so that the orphans are taken care of. After a time of war, a rich man may take in up to four wives in order to provide for them and their children, if their husbands were lost to the battle. The Qur'an mentions the preference to monogamy instead of insisting that men hold more than one wife in a marriage.
- Islam was introduced to a place consisting of men who believed in polygamy, so instead of enforcing a strict rule and scaring possible followers away, the rules for marrying more than one wife are outlined to create the need of a good reason for breaking out of having only one intimate relationship.
- The Qur'an, while allowing men to marry widowed women with children in order to help them survive, is the only religious scripture of the populous and well defined religions that holds the phrase "marry only one".
- The Quran in Sura 4:3 says:
"And if you be apprehensive that you will not be able to do justice to the orphans, you may marry two or three or four women whom you choose. But if you apprehend that you might not be able to do justice to them, then marry only one wife, or marry those who have fallen in your possession. (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 305)""O Prophet, verily We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner and as one who invites unto God by His leave and as an illuminating lamp." (Qur'an 33:45-46)